Women sport news

England's Victoria Lust put paid to US interest in the final of the Women's Racquet Club Invitational when she upset second seed Latasha Khan in the semi-finals of the WISPA World Tour 8 squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.

Athletes will be targeting a share of a US$202,000 prize pot when the second edition of the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge commences at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Kawasaki, Japan, on Sunday 8 May 2011.

Irtysh completed their resurgence by clinching the Kazakhstan National League Championship for Women with their third successive win in the Finals series against defending champions Astana Tigers.

It was Ladies Day at the ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta in Hyeres (FRA) on Friday (29 April), with Britain's female sailors picking up six medals on the final day of competition. Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR

Argentina are stepping up their preparations ahead of this summer's FIBA U19 World Championship for Women as they look to build on the bronze medal performance of two years ago. photo FIVB

Brazilian top seeds Juliana Felisberta Silva/Larissa Franca rallied past Chinese defending event champions Xue Chen/Zhang Xi 2-1 (19-21, 22-20 and 17-15) on Sunday morning in the national televised gold medal match of the Sanya Open presented by Olympic Bay. photo FIVB

Mary King (GBR) today, Sunday 1st May 2011, held her nerve, and her overnight lead, to finish in first and second position after the final Show Jumping phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington. photos StockImageServices.com

The competition at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 concluded Saturday in Moscow, Russia, Meryl Davis/Charlie White struck gold and made history as the first U.S. dance team to win this title. Miko Ando took the Ladies Gold. photo US Figure Skating

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 continued Friday in Moscow, Russia, with the Ladies Short Program and the Short Dance. 11 000 spectators followed the events in the Megasport Arena.

TeamBath have confirmed a place in the 2011 FIAT Netball Superleague play-off with a narrow win over Leeds Carnegie in Round 15 secured by a late goal-run in the final quarter.

Team Northumbria are celebrating a massive step forward in their development by beating Surrey Storm by 12 goals in round 15 of the FIAT Netball Superleague to the delight of head coach Tracey Neville.

It was a battle to the final whistle between Loughborough Lightning and Northern Thunder and one goal decided the Round 15 encounter in the Fiat Netball Superleague.

England Women A opened their European Trophy campaign with a 5-0 victory over Italy in Coruna, Spain today (Saturday).

Queensland Firebirds head home to host the Major Semi Final after sweeping past the Mercury Energy Tactix with a clinical 69-52 win in Christchurch today. photo ANZ Championships

Northern Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu has been refused the opportunity to play for New Zealand in the upcoming Netball World Championships, after the Court of Arbitration in Sport ruled against Netball New Zealand's appeal on her behalf.

Botswana's netballers received a timely boost to their World Championships preparations. World number three England were shocked by a fierce fight back in the last period of the first test against Jamaica in Kingston and more. Report by Rona Hunnisett

The women's match racing trio of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor have also guaranteed at least a silver medal for Skandia Team GBR at this French Olympic Sailing Week by booking their place tomorrow's final. photo Dan Nerney Role

With the #1 athletes in the world from the 100m through the 400m - including 2010's dominant stars Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter - Team USA is ready to set the track ablaze at the 12th edition of USA vs. the World at the 117th Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., at Franklin Field this Saturday.

This weekend sees the final home and away round for the 2011 ANZ Championship season, and it couldn't be a more exciting finale for the world's best netball league.

Germany's Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy captured their third World title. Newcomers Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov of Russia took the silver medal and Qing Pang/Jian Tong of China settled for the bronze.

Cervantes Trophy Race. Starts Saturday, April 30 from RYS. First warning signal at 0750. Organised by RORC in association with the Société des Régates du Havre and the Royal Yacht Squadron. Photo by Paul Weyth

The Den Bosch Hockey Club complex ( ‘s-Hertogenbosch ) home of the Dutch Hoofdklasse’s (women’s) current Rabo League leaders hosted the women’s EuroHockey Club Champions Cup last weekend with both Leicester and Slough looking to make it through their quarter final ties.

With 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Stevenson and world number three Bianca Walkden back in the team after recent family issues and injury respectively, Hall has every reason to feel confident.

The beautiful surf beaches of Hossegor and Seignosse , (Les Landes, Aquitaine in south-western France ) will again host the Swatch Girls Pro France last year. Boasting the highest possible rating on the star-series circuit, the 6-star event is now a key leg in the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) women’s world championship tour.

The GB women’s Wheelchair Basketball team are looking to avenge their fourth place finish at last year’s BT Paralympic World Cup, as they take on Canada, Germany and Japan in Manchester next month.

The Confederación Argentina De Hockey (CAH) has announced the welcome return of Luciana Aymar to national squad duties in preparation for the World Champions Trophy in Holland at the end of June in Amsterdam.